So it’s back…. a month long challenge to use a stamp set as part of the Pootler’s Design Team. I was on the very first Design Team way back in 2016 and lots of the team have taken part so far, and as I am always up for a challenge I volunteered again…although I am not so sure I would have volunteered had I seen the stamp set first! I have to admit it is one of the stamp sets I looked at in the catalogue and thought NOT for me…but surprising how your views change when you have to create with it!

So here is the stamp set

So here is week 1 of using Quirky Critters….

When we had our team retreat, my team leader (Pootles) was having a de-clutter and wanted to get rid of this picture frame, having just received the stamp set, I immediately knew what I could use it for – a piece of décor for a bedroom. I’ve removed the glass so that I could photograph it -but will be adding it back in before gifting it.

You could vary this by making the stamped panel larger so that the centre would be big enough for a photograph, but I wanted to showcase the full set of critters.  To get the reversed image I improvised and used my stampin block – and then went over the image with my Stampin’ Write marker to get a more solid line.  This worked well on the Very Vanilla, but not so well on the Crumb Cake – still as I was going to cut him out anyway, it wasn’t so bad.  The extended tree branch was created by using the Stampin’ Write markers to colour in just part of the stamp and then handdrawing the lines to connect as well as drawing in some rough leaves.

Rather than leaving the creatures flat, once they were dry I shaped them on the reverse , then used the new Mini Dimensionals to hold them in place.

The Eastern Palace Designer Series Paper (DSP) gives it a lovely fresh finish – with a bit of Dapper Denim card to add some contrast and echo the dark colour of the frame.  It was actually rather therapeutic creating this – with stamping and then watercolouring using aquapainters.  You just need to be careful not to oversaturate the card…blot regularly.  If you prefer you could use Stampin’ Write markers for a brighter finish, or out Watercolour pencils and as the critters are a bit cartoon like – you could go mad with the colours as I have….I haven’t seen many lime green snails recently!

Anyway I hope you have enjoyed this project… and that you continue to visit for the rest of the series.  You can subscribe to my blog by email using the button on the right if you want to receive updates on my twice weekly (usually!) projects.

Crafty hugs

Heidi